Steam-governor



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l. D; A. WOODBURY.

STEAM GOVERNOR.

No. 860,336. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

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. STEAM GOVERNOR.

N0. 360,336. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

N. PETERS. PMLvuw u rmv WisMnglum 04 c4 (No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3. D. A. WOODBURY.

, STEAM GOVERNOR.

No. 360,336. Patented Mar. 29, 1887.

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ZQdfM W UNITED STATES PATENT ()rrrcn.

DANIEL A. \VOODBURY, OF ROCHESTER, NINV YORK.

STEAM-GOVERNOR.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,336, dated March 29, 1887.

Application filed December 9, 1886. Serial No. 221,138. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL-A. XVooDnURY, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful I 1nprovement in Steam Governors, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to that class of governors for steam-engines that are attached to a wheel or other suitable support upon the crank-shaft and operated by centrifugal opposing weights; and the object of the inventlon 1s to produce a governor which, from its construction and mode of operation, will work withoutlost motion at its working joints without regard to wear or looseness of fitting, the governor being also capable of fine adjustments, and its construction being such that the inertla of the weights, when the motion of the shaft 1s quickly increased or decreased, acts with the centrifugal force of said weights to more promptly check said change in the rate of motion of the shaft.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hub and arms of a wheel secured to the crank-shaft, the latter being transversely sectioned, to which arms is attached my improved governor, (shown in elevation,) parts belng shown in two positions by full and dotted lines; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the device taken as upon the dotted line w m in Fig. 1, and viewed as indicated by the arrow polnted thereon; Fig. 3, an outline drawing of one of the weights and some other COIII- blned parts, drawn to show more clearly the various lines of draft of the centripetal spring F g. 4, a modification, described further on; Fig. 5, the link serving to connect the centripetal spring and one of the weights, and Fig. 6 a view of the link connecting the two weights.

Referring to the parts, A represents the crank-shaft of an engine; H, a band or other wheel secured thereto, of which 9 are the arms and 1-3 the hub.

D D are the centrifugal weights of the governor, pivoted, respectively, upon parallel longitudinal studs E E, projecting from opposite arms of the wheel at equal distances from and upon opposite sides of the shaft.

0 is an eccentric wheel, connected with the valve of the engine by the usual means, said eccentric wheel beingindependent of the shaft A and secured by bolts h to one of the weights, D, and formed with an opening to avoid the shaft (the axis of which passes through it) in whatever position it may be carried by the centrifugal weights. The axis of the eccentric wheel is parallel with the axis of the shaft, and the lateral motions of said wheel are in a plane at right angles with the axis of said shaft, the eccentric wheel being so held by the weights that when the latter are thrown outward by centrifugal force the axis of the eccentric will be caused to approach the axis of the shaft, moving, however, in a line that passes at one side thereof.

The weights are formed with loops 9', th rough which rigid studs G pass, said loops being provided at their ends with india rubber buffers, the studs G serving as stops for the weights.

F is a spring, secured to the wheel in position to act in lines parallel with the plane passing through the axes of said studs E E, and the planes of the motions of the weights, said spring being joined to the weight D by an adjustable link, I), and pin a. The weights are connected by an adjustable link, 6, and pin 1, so as to move together, said link 6 being pivoted upon a stud, d, of the weight D. The weights are each formed with a series of uniform equidistant pinholes, m, in right lines, those of the weight D reaching from a to a", and those of the weight D reaching from u to o. The links I) and e are each formed with a similar and equal series of opposing holes, so arranged that the pin a, for instance, may be passed through any one of the holes in the weight D and the corresponding hole in the link I) and the pint may likewise be passed through any of the holes in the weight D and a corresponding hole in said link 6 when different adjustments of the governor are re quired.

The spring acts to hold the weights from moving outward from centrifugal force, tending always to hold the eccentric in the position of its greatest eccentricity, and allowing to the cylinderna full supply of steam. \Vhen the weights move outward, they reduce the IOC eccentricity of the eccentric wheel, serving to cut off the flow of steam to the ends of the cylinder at earlier points, the points at which said flow is cut off depending upon the ad vantage the weights have over the spring. By moving the pins to and i to different holes this advantage is varied, it depending upon the amount ofleverage under which this spring acts, or, in other words, the distance between the center of the stud E and the line of draft of the springs, measured perpendicular to that line. This will be fully understood by inspecting Fig. 3.

At Z is represented the center of the pin a when placed in the hole a the weight being at its innermost position, in which case the line Z will represent the line of draft of the spring, and the distance from the center of the stud E to said line Z, along the line t, will represent the leverage of the spring upon the weight. Now, when the weight moves outward, the point Z will become 8, the line Z will become s, and the leverage of the spring will be reduced to an amount represented by the vertical distance between the lines 1 and s. From this it will be seen that when the pin a is in the hole at the right of the series as the weight moves outward the effective force of the spring decreases. If the pin be removed to the hole a, its center will be represented by 1", and 1' will be its line of draft. When the weight moves outward, the point 1* will become 0, with c as the new line of draft, resulting in an increase of leverage, represented by the difference between E 1" and E c. In this case the effective force of the spring increases as the weight moves outward. By placing the pin in any of the intermediate holes, the in crease or decrease in theleverage is modified, and if placed in the middle hole of the series, as shown, there is neither increase or decrease of any practical importance, for in the motions of the weights the'pin will sway equally across the vertical line leading from E. By this means the governor is capable of being very finely adjusted.

The series orline of pinholes mof the weight D is made to cross a line drawn at right angles .from the line of draft of the spring through the pivotal point Ethat is to say, the pinhole a is upon one side of said vertical line and the pin-hole a is upon the other side thereof. The line of pin-holes in the weight 'D' is also formed to cross a line drawn through the pivotal point E perpendicular to the axis or line of draft of the spring, the hole 'ubeing upon one side of said perpendicular line and the hole 20 upon the other side. The construction of the governor is further such that the line of the pull or strain upon the link e, connecting the weights, is substantially parallel with the line of draft of the spring, said lines of draft of the spring and link 6 being on opposite sides of the shaft A.

The distance between the centers of the holes in the links are made equal to the distance between the centers of the holes of the respective weights, on account of which the tension of the spring will remain the same without regard to which one of the holes in the weight D the pin a may be inserted; or, in other words, all the adj ustments of the governor may be made without altering the strain or tens on upon the-spring. This is important, as when thus constructed the spring does not require to be adjusted when the adjustments of the governor are made.

In practice the power of the centripetal spring may increase too rapidly for the cen trifugal force of the weights and thereby allow of too great a difference in the speed of the engine working between light and heavy loads.

In this case the pin a should be removed to a hole farther out, so the line of draft of the spring will approach the pivotal point of the weight as said weights move outward. On the other hand, the effective power of the spring may not increase rapidly enough to cope with the centrifugalforce of theweights, allowing the governor to run unsteady. In this case the pin a should be moved inwardly, to allow the distance between the line of draft and the pivotal point of the weight to increase as said weights move outward.

When the eccentric is in its position ofgreatest eccentricity,its center is at p, and when the weights are thrown outward to their stops the center of said eccentric is at o, the eccentric in these two positions giving to the valve its greatest and least travel.

The hub 13 of the wheel II is lengthened and formed with arms k, in the ends of which the studs E E have bearings. The weights where they meet these studs are bifurcated and formed with broad bearings upon the studs, the divided parts of each weight resting upon either side of the arm 7t.

bearings of the governor are always upon the same sides ofthe pivot-pins whether the weights be moving outward or inward, said bearingpoints being always on the outsides of said pins with reference to the center of rotation of the governor, on account of which no lost motion or rattling can occur at said pivots, resulting from wear or loose fitting.

The heavy parts h of the centrifugal weights overhang the respective bearings of the weights, on account of which a sudden increase of motion of the wheel tends, on ac count ofthe inertia of said parts h, to quicklythrow the latter outward, serving to reducet-he travel of the valve and check the motion of the wheel and shaft. On the other band, should the rate of rotation of the wheel be suddenly checked, the inertia of the parts h would cause them to fall toward the center and quickly check the reduction in speed. These effects of inertia are in addition to the centrifugal force'acting upon the weights. This matter will be understood by observing that if the wheel be started suddenly forward the pivot E, for instance, will be carried suddenly in the direction indicated by the arrow l i t t associated therewith, causing the part h of the weight D to move toward the dotted position shown. On the contrary, if the motion of said pivot be suddenly checked by a load thrown on the engine, the part h of the weight will be thrown inward. The weight D acts the same. This advantage I gain by hanging the weights so that a line joining the centers of gravity of the part h shall pass substantially through the center of the shaft and be at right angles with the line joining the pivotal points of said weights.

The studs E E may be made hollow, to hold lubricating-oil for the bearings of the weights, with feeders leading outward to said bearings, as indicated by dotted lines, the rotatory motion of the governor tending to throw the oil out through the feeders to the points at which the weights bear most heavily against the studs above mentioned. This rotatory Inot-ion of the governor tends to throw the oil outward to the bearing-points off all the pivotjoints of the governor in whatever manner the oil may be supplied to them.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the ec centric secured to the weight D, it being in this case a wrist-pin held eccentric with the shaft and at the end thereof. To this pin the valverod or eccentric-rod is attached, giving to the valve its requisite motion as the governor is rotated. The pin is extended at its rear end through an opening in' the weight, and provided with a screw-nut or similar fastening on the other side of the weight, said pin being laterally adjustable in the weight by opposing adjusting-screws, as shown. A reduction of friction would result from the use of this eccentric-pin instead of the wheel.

hat I claim as my invention is 7 1. A shaft, a support for a governor secured thereto, centrifugal weights pivoted to said support, a link to connect said weights, and an eccentric wheel secured to one of said weights, in combination with a spring, a link connecting said spring and weights, the line of action of said spring being substantially parallel with the plane of the motion of said weights, the latter being each formed with a series of pin holes, said links being each formed with a series of pin-holes to co-operate with said pin-holes of the respective weights, and pins for said pin-holes, the distance between the centers of corresponding holes in said weight and link being equal, to the end that said pin may be changed to different holes to adjust the action of the spring upon the weights without varying the tension of the spring.

2. A shaft, a support for a governor secured thereto, opposing centrifugal weights pivoted to said support, an eccentric wheel secured to one of said weights, a link, 6, joining said weights, a spring to act upon said weights,a link connecting said spring and weights, the lines of draft of said spring and said link 6 beingsubstantially parallel and on opposite sides of the axis of said shaft, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with a shaft and wheel or governor support secured thereto, opposing centrifugal weights D D, pivoted to said support, an eccentric wheel secured to one of said weights, the weights being each formed with a series of pin-holes, a connecting-link for said weights, pivoted to the weight D and formed with a series of pin-ho] es to co-operate with the pin-holes of said weight D, a pin for the holes of said weight and link, a spring to act upon said weights, a link to connect said spring and weight D, said link being formed with a series of pin-holes corresponding to the pin-holes of said weight D, and a pin therefor, substantially as shown.

4. A shaft, a governor support secured thereto, centrifugal weights pivoted to said support, an eccentric wheel secured to one of said weights, the latter being formed with a series of pin holes, in combination with a spring, a link connecting said spring and weight, said link being provided with a series f holes to cooperate with the holes of said eight, the holes of the latter being formed 0 either side of a line drawn at right angles \0 the line of action of said spring and passing through the pivotal point of said weight, a pin for the holes in said link and weight, and a link to connect said weights, substantially as shown and described.

5. A shaft, a governor support secured thereto, centrifugal weights pivoted to said support, an eccentric wheel secured to one of said weights, the latter being formed with a series of pin holes, in combination with a spring, a link connecting said spring and weight, said link being provided with a series of holes to co-operate with the holes of said weight, the holes of the latter being formed on either side of a line at right angles with the line joining the pivotal point of said weight and the axis of said eccentric wheel, and a link to connect said weights, substantially as described.

D. A. XVOODBURY.

Witnesses:

ENos B. WiIIrMoRE, M. L. MoDnRMoTr. 

